Bachelor's in Radiation Therapy Technology (BS)

College of Arts and Sciences

Radiation therapy technologists are involved in direct patient care. Under the supervision of radiation oncologists, they use high energy X-rays, electron beams or radioactive isotopes to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapists must be able to interact compassionately and effectively with people who range from healthy to terminally ill. This is a 3+1 program in which the first three years of course work are completed at Roosevelt University with the final year completed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Roosevelt University is the only university in Chicago that is affiliated with all four of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Clinical School programs. This is a 3+1 program in which the first three years of coursework are completed at Roosevelt University with the final year completed at the clinical affiliate site. Our downtown Chicago location allows you to continue to live on campus and have access to Roosevelt's support services and activities.

Expectations & Requirements

Standards

Radiation therapy technology students complete a minimum of 85 semester hours of academic work, including the University Writing Requirement and the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements, in addition to the radiation therapy technology concentration requirements outlined below. Students must take their final 30 hours before clinical training at Roosevelt University. They complete their last 35 semester hours in a one-year, full-time, daytime clinical training program at Northwestern Medicine. Upon successful completion of the clinical program, students receive a certificate in radiation therapy technology from the hospital, a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health – Radiation Therapy from Roosevelt University, and are eligible to sit for the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) certification examination.

Outcomes

Preparation for Further Training

Radiation therapy technologists are involved in direct patient care. Under the supervision of radiation oncologists, they use high energy X-rays, electron beams or radioactive isotopes to kill cancer cells. Students are also able to continue training as a medical dosimetrist. The medical dosimetrist is responsible for the radiation dose distributions and dose calculations used in radiation therapy.

Placement and Pass Rates

The job placement for ALH Radiation Therapy Technology graduates in the last five years is 95.6 percent with 100 percent pass rate on the Board of Certification Exam.

Admission

​Admission into the ALH radiation therapy technology program follows the basic admission criteria of the University. Admission to clinical training is at the discretion of the clinical affiliate, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Students are not guaranteed admission. The minimum GPA for clinical application for this program is a 2.5 GPA overall and a 2.5 GPA in the prerequisite courses.